Analysis of Caesarean Section Rates Using Robson's Group Classification

Abstract

Introduction: The Caesarean section (CS) rate is steadily increasing worldwide, including in India. The overall CS rates are reported, but the women are classified. According to WHO, Robson ten ten-group classification is useful as a global standard for assessing, monitoring, and comparing caesarean section rates. Our objective was to classify women delivering in our hospital according to various categories as per the 10-group classification (Robson's classification) and to analyze the CS rate in each group.

Material & Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Vitthal Rao Vikhe Patil Pravara Rural Hospital, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences. The data was collected for all women delivering in the hospital from February 2023 to April 2023, and the women were classified according to Robson's 10-group classification. The proportion of women delivering in each group, the CS rate of each group, and the relative contribution to the CS rate from each group were calculated.

Results: Among a total of 1506 women delivering during the study period, 37.9% of women were delivered by CS. The maximum no of pregnant women belonged to the primigravida group (groups 1 and 2), 40 %. Major contributors to the CS rate were Group 5 at 33.9%. The next contributors were group 2 and group 1 at 22.2% and 17.8% respectively. Overall, the three groups 1, 2, and 5 contributed 73.9 % of the CS rate, while the other group contributed to only 26.1% of the CS rate.

Conclusions: Applying Robson's criteria to classify pregnant women allowed for easy classification to identify the category of women most likely to have CS. Reducing the primary CS rate and increasing VBAC rates will help to reduce the CS rate.